Confirming surveillance in Miami Beach Coral Gables can often be difficult. It is usually done to determine if surveillance exists (in order to evade it). For this reason, obvious surveillance detection should be avoided. If operators think a target is engaging in counter-surveillance, they may become more sophisticated in their approach and may believe the target is going to carry out some ‘illegal’ activity. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

In most cases, surveillance operators in Miami Beach Coral Gables will withdraw if they believe they have been detected. Surveillance itself may be stopped. In other situations, surveillance teams may maintain command of the target even if detected (overt surveillance). Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach Coral Gables. Obvious surveillance by police is sometimes used to intimidate targets as part of a larger psychological warfare operation, usually designed to neutralize the target through fear and paranoia.

The key to successful surveillance detection is awareness and observation of one’s surroundings, including persons and vehicles.

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In identifying potential operators, make note of their clothing, size, mannerisms, and facial features (including hair style & color, the shape of head & face, mustache, marks, etc.). Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. In particular, any distinguishing marks or features can greatly assist in retention & the ability to later identify the same individual or vehicle. Most operators will attempt to blend in and to minimize any attention being drawn to them. Colorful or odd clothing, hairstyles, etc. will be avoided due to the involuntary attention they attract. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

Therefore, most operators will be marked by their ‘unnoticeable’ and normal appearance. In identifying possible operators, begin by observing those around you. Assume that all are potential operators. Begin eliminating those who are most likely to not be engaged in surveillance, in order to focus on those that are. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

Keep in mind that some surveillance teams consist of persons who look as if they could not pass a basic physical fitness test, and can include old Asian ladies, fat short men, etc. Undercover police have also infiltrated biker gangs, facilitated in part by their own personal interest in tattoos, growing their hair long, and not shaving. It is most important to evaluate what people do and their behavior, not their appearance or what they look like. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

Vehicles can be observed by their color, shape, model, noticeable marks/dents, and license plates. At night, the silhouette of the vehicle and the position of its headlights can assist in identifying possible surveillance operators.

The main goal in detection is to observe an individual and/or vehicle in one location and then at subsequent locations.

General Characteristics of Surveillance Operators (Foot & Vehicle):

Can be of any race or ethnicity, any size or shape, young or old. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

They will usually avoid eye contact and can even appear awkward in their efforts to do so. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

They may appear out of place, nervous & tense (because they are).

Can be heard or observed speaking into chest microphones, adjusting earpieces, or using hand-held devices to adjust volume or signal team members (contained in pocket).

Can be observed signaling (by hand, head nod, etc.) or directly talking to other team members. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

Detection Techniques

One of the best times to detect surveillance is when a surveillance box has been established around a location. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Surveillance teams are most vulnerable to detection during this phase of an operation. In some cases, they may sit for hours waiting for the target to move or appear.

Observation Posts in overlooking apartments or houses can often be identified by their apparent lack of activity, drawn blinds or curtains, or some other coverings over windows. Although they want to see out, they do not want you to see in. In order to see out, all they may require is a slight opening for a camera lens or telescope. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

Possible OP locations can be observed from within the target location (using the method described above) as well as when leaving/entering the area. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. For surveillance teams, the ideal location has a good line-of-sight observation of the target’s front door and vehicle.

The more familiar one is with their neighborhood, the easier it is to identify new vehicles & even neighbors, both of which could be potential surveillance. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Sometimes, it is impractical for police to rent out apartments or use the homes of civilians. Then, a vehicle Observation Post is used.

If a Vehicle Observation Post is used, it is usually a van, mini-van, camper home, or cube truck, large enough to contain operators & surveillance equipment. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Like the apartment scenario, a vehicle OP will be marked by its lack of activity and by an inability to see into the rear compartment area. Curtains or some other cover are also placed on the windows. Vehicle OP’s can remain parked for days or be moved around and replaced. A possible indicator of surveillance is the near-constant presence of some kind of vehicle with a rear compartment in the vicinity. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

If a vehicle matching these descriptions is parked & the driver walks away, then gets into another vehicle, the parked vehicle is a potential surveillance post. In some cases, police have parked a normal passenger car with an operator hidden in the trunk. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. The operator can monitor a transmitter and/or video record activities through a peephole.

A variation of the vehicle OP is the parking of a vehicle with either a device and receiver to record a nearby transmitter (in a building or on a person) or with a mini-CCTV video camera installed. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. The operator leaves the car for the duration of the surveillance operation then retrieves it later.

Technical surveillance is difficult to detect, especially that involving telecommunications. A general rule in regards to technical surveillance is to assume it is always possible and to protect information as if it were subject to eavesdropping. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Even using technical countermeasures to detect surveillance devices or technologies is not a guarantee of security. Our enemy has far greater technological resources, including access to telecommunications facilities, corporations, etc. This determines our means of security against technical surveillance. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

One purpose of physical surveillance is to enable police intelligence agents to plan physical break-and-enters in order to put in place technical devices. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Special entry teams may first break into a residence, workplace, or vehicle and photograph interior walls, fixtures, layout, objects, etc. They determine the best locations and types of devices to be used. They then leave, prepare the devices, and return. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

In many cases, there is no obvious sign of entry and nothing is taken. If dogs are inside the house, they may act strangely due to ultrasonic devices used to control them during police covert entry. In other cases, burglaries may be staged. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Telephone, TV, electrical repair crews or plumbers may be used to gain access. A co-operative landlord might provide keys. Police raids and searches are also good times for devices to be put in place.

Items seized by police during a raid, such as computers, VCRs, etc., and later returned, could have devices planted in them. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. The same is true for vehicles impounded overnight or unexpected gifts such as stereos or TV’s (trojan horse).

Searches for technical devices should be conducted as discreetly as possible, carried out while pretending to clean up, etc. In some cases, suspects have been raided shortly after finding listening devices in their residences & vehicles. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Searches should be systematic and planned, from the ceiling to the floor, including all objects, devices, light switches, electrical outlets, light fixtures, air vents, smoke detectors, etc. in each room.

On wall surfaces, small off-color pieces, differences in texture, or pin-holes, may be detected. Using a small flashlight to focus on small areas helps in observation. All electrical items should be dismantled & inspected, all paintings & mirrors removed. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Drapes & curtains should be checked, as well as plants, furniture, desks, etc. Listening devices or mini-cameras can also enter a location as a ‘trojan horse’, concealed in gifts such as new clocks, radios, CD players, small TV’s, etc.

Vehicle searches should be carried out after a carwash. Park vehicle in discreet location (i.e., garage) and inspect undercarriage for tracking devices attached by a magnet. Check inside the trunk and engine. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Check the interior, including roof, door paneling, dashboard, visors, and seats for devices. Listening devices which rely on radio frequencies can also be detected by RF monitors. If radios, TV, or phones begin picking up different frequencies, static, or behaving strangely, this is a possible indicator of surveillance. If technical devices are found, this is a clear confirmation of surveillance. What is done with this information depends on the situation? Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

Devices can be left in place, as removing them can prompt a police raid to retrieve them, and/or more sophisticated devices to replace them. Misinformation can be provided. At the last moment, tracking devices can be re-attached to another vehicle, etc. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

In enclosed spaces such as rooms & vehicles known to police intelligence agents, or on any telecommunications, it is almost impossible to secure against technical surveillance. When protected information or activities must be discussed, avoid all enclosed spaces associated with oneself or movement members, and avoid using telecommunications. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. The best form of communication is face-to-face. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

The rule is: against a high-tech enemy, go low-tech (or no-tech). Do not attempt to overcome technical surveillance using technical means. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Telecommunications Assume all telecommunications are vulnerable to surveillance and avoid discussing protected information or activities on the phone, the internet, etc.

Since counter-insurgency operations are based on all sources, avoid discussing personal information on the phone or internet, including rumors, gossip, and private details of individual’s lives. Use pre-arranged code words and names if it is necessary to communicate over telecommunications. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Cell Phones Cell phones can be used as both tracking & listening devices and should not be carried during any secret activity or when discussing sensitive matters.

The battery should be removed. Computers and the Internet The following are basic tips from A Practical Security Handbook for Activists & Campaign, a publication from resistance in the UK. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Overall, however, all telecommunications should be considered insecure forms of communicating.

Computer Security Equipment

Install and regularly update anti-virus and firewall software. Free programs such as AVG (www.grisoft.com) and ZoneAlarm (www.zonealarm.com) are available for Windows. The important feature is that live update is activated so they are continually up-to-date.

Install a spyware detector program such as Ad-Aware.

Deleting a file does not remove it from your hard drive, etc. In order to do this, it needs to be properly wiped, using a program dedicated to doing this. Recommended ones are Clean Disk Security and PGP. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

Encrypt any sensitive files on your computer, CDs or floppy disks using a program such as PGP (or GPG). Ideally, you will stuff all files into one big archive (eg using WinZip or StuffIt) and encrypt that. This means that even the file names are hidden. Wipe the original files. This should be done every night when you’ve finished using the computer. Alternatively use disk encryption

Choose passwords that are effective – longer than 16 characters, including upper and lower case letters, number and symbols if permitted. Weak passwords are easily broken. Password protected computers are not secure to the prepared infiltrator so encrypting anything sensitive is also needed. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables.

Listening Devices/Mini-Cameras To protect against covert entry & placement of devices in a residence or vehicle, standard anti-burglar measures are used. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. These include good, strong locks on doors & windows, alarms, surveillance cameras, and dogs. Vehicles can be parked in secure garages with an alarm system.

None of these measures will guarantee security against covert entry, however. Biker gangs began using scanners in their residences and clubhouses to detect transmitters hidden on infiltrators or informants. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. In response, police created recording devices concealed as pagers with on/off switches so that if a scanner was known to be in use the device could be turned off. Bikers would also buy and set up CCTV camera systems in their residences, drug labs, and clubhouses, to monitor them for covert or forced entries. Hidden voice activated recorders were also used in efforts to identify covert entries.

Tracking Devices To counter the use of tracking devices, do not use personal vehicles for secret activities. Newer model cars also have built-in GPS trackers, such as Onstar. Many rental car companies now install GPS devices to track their vehicles. It is also possible that police could place a GPS tracker on a bicycle. Counter surveillance equipment Miami Beach coral gables. Any vehicle used to counter surveillance must be ‘cold’– unattached to you or any comrades.